Key case



T. LEWIS KEY CASE Nov. 2, 1954 Filed Sept. 16, 1953 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS 2,693,101 Patented Nov. 2, 1954 United States Patent OfiFice KEY CASE Tom Lewis, Maryville, Tenn.

Application September 16, 1953, Serial No. 380,529

2 Claims. (Cl. 70-456) This invention relates to key cases of the rigid type which are made of metal, plastic, or the like, and in particular a case having a cavity for receiving a key or a plurality of keys with a hinged spring actuated cover, and in which the cover which is snapped to the closed position, is opened by pressing on buttons extended from sides of the casing which, being positioned on the ends of a shaft on which keys are pivotally mounted spread the side walls of the casing whereby the cover is released and the spring snaps the cover to the open position, and at the same time, kicks the keys to outwardly extended positions.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a comparatively small key case in which means is provided for projecting keys by pressing against buttons on side walls of the case.

Various types of key cases and containers have been provided, however, it is difficult, when carrying bundles, to open a key case of the conventional type and select a key with one hand. With this thought in mind this invention contemplates a relatively small case adapted to be held in a hand between the thumb and second finger thereof with buttons on the sides and with spring actuated mounting means for a cover and keys therein, in which upon pressing the buttons inwardly the cover is released and the keys snap to extended positions.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide means for forming a key case whereby keys pivotally mounted therein are adapted to be snapped to extended positions as buttons on sides of the case are pressed inwardly.

Another object of the invention is to provide a key case that is adapted to hold conventional keys and that is adapted to open and eject a key as a button is pressed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a key case from which keys are ejected and a cover opened as pressure is applied to sides thereof in which the case is of a simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention embodies a relatively thin case having arcuate ends with. side walls connected by a web extended across one side and also across one end and in which a spring actuated cover is adapted to be opened as buttons on the ends of a shaft upon which keys are mounted are pressed inwardly, the keys also being projected with the spring by which the cover is opened.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawing,wherein:

Figure l is an elevational view illustrating the use of the improved key case and showing the case gripped by a thumb and second finger of a hand.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the improved key case.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section through the key case taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, with the parts shown on an enlarged scale and showing the case in the closed position.

Figure 4 is a similar view showing the case in the open position.

Figure 5 is a cross section through the case taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2 showing the key mounting shaft and also showing buttons extended from ends of the shaft.

Figure 6 is a cross section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 3 also showing the key mounting shaft and buttons.

Figure 7 is a cross section taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 3 also showing the key mounting shaft and buttons and in addition, illustrating the pivotal mounting of the cover of the case.

Figure 8 is a detail showing an exploded view of the key mounting shaft with the parts thereof separated.

Figure 9 is a cross section through the case taken substantially on line 9-9 of Fig. 3 showing the side Walls of the case spread to release the cover whereby the spring snaps the cover to the open position and eject keys.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts the improved key case of this invention, which is substantially U-shape in cross section, is formed with a base 10 from which side walls 11 and 12 extend, a cover 13 that is pivotally mounted in the side walls with a pin 14 and that is snapped to an open position by a spring 15, and a key retaining shaft formed with cylindrical sections 16 and 17 and into the ends of which screws 18 and 19, respectively, are threaded.

The heads of the screws 18 and 19 are formed to provide buttons 20 and 21, respectively.

As illustrated in Fig. 8, the cylindrical section 16 is provided with slots 22 and 23 that are positioned to receive tongues 24 and 25 extended from the section 17, and the section 17 is provided with slots 26 and 27 that are positioned to receive tongues 28 and 29 extended from the section 16.

The section 16 is provided with a threaded opening 30 into which the screw 18 is threaded and a similar threaded opening 31 is provided in the section 17 into which the screw 19 is threaded. The side wall 11 is provided with an opening 32 through which the screw 19 extends and a similar opening 33 is provided in the side wall 12 through which the screw 18 is free to slide.

The screws form stems of the buttons and the stems may or may not be threaded as desired.

The upper edge of the side wall 12 is provided with a stud 34 having an upper beveled surface 35 and, as shown in Fig. 6, the stud 35 is positioned to extend into an opening 36 in the cover 13.

With the parts formed in this manner the cover 13 is pressed downwardly from the position shown in Fig. 4 and with the inner edge engaging the beveled surface 35 of the stud 34 the side wall 12 will be moved sufiiciently to permit the cover to pass whereby the stud 34 will snap into the opening 36.

An arcuate spring 37 is mounted on the inner surface of the cover 13 with a binding strip 38 and with the spring positioned as shown in Fig. 4 it will be compressed as the cover is closed and with the keys positioned in the case,

. as shown in Fig. 3 they will be retained therein by the cover.

Furthermore, with the parts arranged as disclosed and described it will be understood that pressure on the buttons 20 and 21 will elongate the shaft formed by the sections 16 and 17 whereby the side walls 11 and 12 will be spread, as illustrated in Fig. 9 and the cover 13 will be released.

Upon releasing the cover the spring 37 will snap the cover to the position shown in Fig. 4 and the extended end of the spring will snap the keys to outwardly extended positions, also as shown in Fig. 4.

It will be understood that the key case may be made of plastic or other suitable material and may be formed to accommodate one, or a plurality of keys, and may be made to hold keys of different sizes.

It will also be understood that modifications, within the scope of the appended claims, may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a key case, the combination which comprises a casing, U-shape in cross section having a base with side walls extended upwardly from the edges thereof, a cover pivotally mounted in the side walls, an extensible key retaining shaft extended through the casing and positioned with the ends in engagement with inner surfaces of side walls thereof, said shaft comprising similar shaped sections having end portions positioned in opposed relation to each other, diametrically opposed tongues on each end portion extending toward the oppositely positioned end portion and slots in the peripheral edge of each end portion adapted to slidably receive the tongues on the opposed end portion, buttons having stems positioned with thstemsextended through-the side walls and with the buttons spaced from the" outer surfaes'the'reof, said's'tems being secured in the end portions of the key retaining shaft,.a latch for retaining the cover in the closed position; and"fesilientmeans'fo? snapping-the covevtoE-an .5

open positionas theside' wal'ls of "the casingqare' spread byvpressing'saidbuttons inwardly:

2. "Ina key-case; -the=combination"which comprises-"am elongated casing 'having' arcuate 5 ends; said casing=-being U -shape =in 'cross section having a j base with upwardly "10 extendedside walls; a cover {positioned between 'the side walls and'pivota-lly mounted -the'reinj'a spring for' -snap ping the'cover to an-openposition, a l-ateh'forretaining' the cover' in a closed =positiong an-extensible" shaft 'extended through' one end of the casing-and positioned 'to '15 retaini keys therein; said shaft eornprising= similar shaped section's having endportions positioned in opposed rela-" tioimo-each other,diametricallyfopposed tongues-on each end port-ion'extending toward theoppositely positioned casing to spread the sameto releasethe cover.

Referencesifiited in the rfileiof this: patent UNITED; STATES; PATENTS Number Name, Date 1,642,791 Skirepa": Sept. 20, 1927 1,943,844 Slotnick Jan. 16, 1934 2,593,030 Holmgren Apr. 15, 1952 2,623,381

,Queen Dec. 30, 1952 end portion and slots inth e peripheral edge of each en 

